The Lambda Sigma Phi fraternity was founded in 2001 at the University of Alabama in the hope of showing “other groups at the university what Jesus is all about.”
Disciples.
Same story with the Alpha Delta Chi sorority. Its 13 membership requirements include “personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord,” an “interest in leading others to Christ” and a “willingness to abstain from alcohol in circumstances where the Christian witness would be adversely affected.”
I would venture a guess that the Christian witness is adversely affected by jell-o shots, keg stands, and beer pong.
According to Jay Reeves’ article for the Associated Press, “members [of Lambda Sigma Phi] get pumped up about prayer, Bible study and service projects, passions they say campus officials should and often do embrace as fresh amid a Greek culture typically seen as centered on hazing, keg parties and little else.”
Something about this makes me cringe.
Wait, no, everything about this makes me cringe. Perhaps its the Animal House image of Greek life that’s burned into my brain, or Penn’s own quasi-sacrilegious Greek scene, but does Jesus really belong in a frat house?
It’s not just the idea of Jesus per se; I think there’s a larger issue here. If Greek life is supposed to foster these non-discriminatory communities bound by brotherhood and sisterhood, is it really necessary to get the man upstairs involved?
I don’t think so.
I thought the beauty of the Greek system was that it allowed groups of people to relate to each other in a new (and possibly alcohol-laden) forum, far apart from religious institutions. So why not keep it that way?
By all means, if you want to associate with other members of your religious sect, go for it. Have your Bible study, live together, try and lead others to Christ. I just don’t think a fraternity or sorority house is the place to do it.
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